Television

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Underfunded Missouri public defender disciplined for not keeping up with work

The chronically underfunded Missouri public defender system
is now dealing with another vexing issue: the prospect that its overworked
attorneys could be punished for not keeping up with their workloads. And that's
leading to a growing standoff between judges and public defender attorneys.

The issue surfaced after the Missouri Supreme Court
last month suspended a 21-year veteran of the public defender’s office
in Columbia who was laboring under a huge caseload and was hospitalized with chronic health problems.

The lawyer, Karl William Hinkebein, was placed on probation
for a year after the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel — the state agency
that oversees attorney conduct — found that he failed to provide adequate
representation to six of his clients between 2011 and 2013.

In the wake of that decision, many public defenders
throughout the state are refusing to take on additional clients. Last week,
Boone County Presiding Judge Kevin Crane said he would start appointing
private attorneys to represent indigent clients. He has since appointed more
than three dozen, who will be working pro bono, or without pay.

Michael Barrett, director of the Missouri public defender
system, says the Supreme Court’s decision has left public defenders in an
untenable position.

About Matt

An analysis of crime and punishment from the perspective of a former prosecutor and current criminal justice practitioner.
The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinions or postions of any county, state or federal agency.